Chrysanthemum plant named `Orange Suerte`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Orange Suerte`, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences that are about 10 cm in diameter; attractive bright orange ray florets and bright yellow disc florets; numerous ray florets per inflorescence arranged in multiple rows; numerous disc florets per inflorescence; and excellent postproduction longevity with flowering stems maintaining good substance and color for about three to four weeks in an interior environment after one week of cool storage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora andreferred to by the cultivair name `Orange Suerte.`

The new cultivar is a product of a mutation induction breeding programconducted by the inventor in Fort Myers, Fla., and Salinas, Calif. Theobjective of the program is to create new Chrysanthemum cultivars havinginflorescences with desirable form and floret colors, good substance,and excellent post-production longevity.

The new cultivar originated by exposing unrooted cuttings of theChrysanthemum cultivar Suerte (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,225)to a X-ray radiation level of 1,500 rads on Oct. 27, 1994 in Fort Myers,Fla. Following the radiation treatment, the cuttings were rooted andterminal apices were removed (pinched) three times to promote lateralbranch development. After lateral branches from the third pinch reachedsufficient size, terminal cuttings were harvested, planted and floweredin a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. The cultivar `OrangeSuerte` was discovered and initially selected by the inventor as asingle flowering plant within this population on Apr. 20, 1995 and wasre-selected on Dec. 12, 1995 during the first flowering of the initialselection. The selection of these plants was based on their desirableinflorescence form and floret colors, good substance, and excellentpost-production longevity. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSalinas, Calif., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants ofthe parent cultivar, `Suerte`, in ray floret color as plants of `Suerte`have dark pink/purple-colored ray florets. However plants of the newChrysanthemum are not significantly different from plants of `Suerte` inany other horticultural characteristics. In side- by-side comparisionsconducted in Salinas, Calif., plants of the new Chrysanthemum have alsobeen compared to other similar cultivars such as `Regal Suerte`(disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08,867,698) and`Coral Suerte` (disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.08/867,696). Plants of these cultivars also differ from plants of thenew Chrysanthemum in ray floret color as plants of `Regal Suerte` havedark purple-colored ray florets and plants of `Coral Suerte` havecoral-colored ray florets. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are notsignificantly different from plants of `Regal Suerte` in any otherhorticultural characteristics.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

The cultivar `Orange Suerte` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Orange Suerte`. These characteristicsin combination distinguish `Orange Suerte` as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Daisy-type inflorescences that are about 10 cm in diameter.

2. Attractive bright orange ray florets and bright yellow disc florets.

3. Numerous ray florets per inflorescence arranged in multiple rows.

4. Numerous disc florets per inflorescence.

5. Excellent postproduction longevity with flowering stems maintaininggood substance and color for about three to four weeks in an interiorenvironment after one week of cool storage.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering stem of `Orange Suerte` grown as a single-stem spray cutChrysanthemum.

The second photograph comprises a side perspective view of typicalinflorescences of the cultivar `Orange Suerte`.

The third photograph comprises a top perspective view of upper (top) andlower (bottom) surfaces of typical inflorescences of the cultivarsSuerte (left) and `Orange Suerte` (right) which shows the difference inray floret colors.

The fourth photograph comprises a top perspective view of the uppersurfaces of typical leaves of the cultivar `Orange Suerte` at twodifferent stages of development.

Floret and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., undercommercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Day and nighttemperatures ranged from 18° to 24° C. and 16° to 17° C., respectively,and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 3,500 footcandles. Rooted cuttingswere planted Feb. 13, 1997 and cut flowers were harvested on Apr. 21,1997. After planting rooted cuttings of the new cultivar, plantsreceived two weeks of long day/short nights following by short day/longnights until flowering. Plants were grown as single-stem, that is,without pinching. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesfor six typical flowering stems.

Botanial classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar `OrangeSuerte`.

Commercial classification: Daisy spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

Parentage: Induced mutation of Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar`Suerte` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,225).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Seven to ten days with soil tempeatures of 21C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous daisy spray-type cut flower. Stemsupright, uniform habit and freely branching.

Flowering stem length.--About 94 cm.

Foliage description.--Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf size, fullyexpanded: Length: About 10.5 cm. Width: About 7.5 cm. Leaf apex:Cuspidate. Leaf base: Attenuate. Leaf margin: Deeply lobed. Leaftexture: upper and lower surfaces slightly pubescent. Veins prominent onlower surface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliagelower surface: 147B. Mature foliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliagelower surface: 147B. Venation upper surface: 147B. Venation lowersurface: 147B. Petiole: Length: About 2.5 cm. Color: 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Daisy-type inflorescence form. Inflorescences borne onterminals, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arrangedacropetally on receptacle.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plant flowers in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two weeks of long day/short night conditions after plantingfollowed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about52 days later.

Postproduction longevity.--In an interior environment, flowering stemswill maintain good color and substance for about three or four weeks inan interior environment after one week of cool storage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About 11 inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (height): About 1.2cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.75 cm. Diameter of receptacle: About 7 mm.

Ray florets.--Shape: Oblong. Size: Length: About 4.6 cm. Width: About1.1 cm. Apex: Rounded to dentate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.Texture: Satiny, smooth, glabrous Aspect: Flat. Number of ray floretsper inflorescence: About 83. Color: When opening: Upper surface: 169A.Lower surface: 168D with red overtones. Base: 154A. Mature: Uppersurface: 169A/169B. Lower surface: 168D with red overtones. Base: 154A.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular. Size: Length: About 7 mm. Width: Apex:About 2.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: About 121. Color: Immature: 154A. Mature: Apex: 9A. Base:Greenish white. Throat: 9A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and angled about 50° to the stem. Length:First peduncle: About 10.5 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 16 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 22.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 147B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 15A. Pollen: Moderate, 15A in color. Gynoecium: Present on bothray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: No known Chrysanthemum diseases observed to date onplants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed `Orange Suerte`, as illustrated and described.